Thomas Frank ally is leading search for new Tottenham manager

Telegraph

8 hours ago

Tottenham Hotspur have cleared the decks for Ange Postecoglou's successor to arrive with a new backroom team by dismissing three of the Australian's staff, but Johan Lange has remained as sporting director to lead the search for a new head coach.
Assistant coaches Mile Jedinak, Nick Montgomery and Sérgio Raimundo have followed Postecoglou out of the exit. Senior assistant coach Matt Wells and goalkeeping coach Rob Burch have remained in position, although it remains to be seen whether or not that changes when a new appointment is made.
Sources believe that Thomas Frank is interested in taking over from Postecoglou and that he would ideally want to take a number of members of his Brentford backroom staff with him to Spurs.
As revealed by Telegraph Sport, Tottenham sacked Postecoglou and chief football officer Scott Munn on Friday, but Lange has not been part of the cull. His position remains unchanged and he is expected to be helped by Fabio Paratici.
Paratici has remained a consultant to Spurs and chairman Daniel Levy, and is expected to return to a full-time post at the club this summer once his worldwide football ban is lifted.
Spurs understood to be 'carefully assessing' options
Frank is considered a leading candidate to succeed Postecoglou, although his exit fee – believed to be in the region of £10 million – may still provide a stumbling block and interest has existed in Fulham manager Marco Silva and his Bournemouth counterpart Andoni Iraola.
Tottenham are said to be carefully assessing their options, with Levy aware of the expense involved in hiring Frank, and Lange perfectly positioned to assess his capabilities for the post.
Lange and Frank used to share an office when they were coaching together at Danish club Lyngby, and are said to have maintained a good relationship.
That could be a boost to Frank, although Lange may also be aware of any of the potential drawbacks in Tottenham replacing Postecoglou with a coach who has never managed in a full European competition and is yet to win a title.
As well as presenting their preferred candidate for the head coach role to Levy and the Spurs board, Lange and Paratici are expected to take responsibility for the club's summer transfer window.
That may include decisions over the futures of defender Cristian Romero, who is wanted by Atlético Madrid and captain Son Heung-min, who has left some players and staff with the impression he could leave Spurs amid interest from Saudi Arabia.
Telegraph Sport reported that Levy is facing the threat of a Tottenham player revolt over the decision to sack Postecoglou and the way in which it was done, and Son has led a number of dressing-room tributes to the Australian.
In a message posted on Instagram, Son wrote: 'Gaffer. You've changed the trajectory of this club. You believed in yourself, and us, since day one and never wavered for a second. Even when others did.